California Pizza Kitchen Restaurant Review

: As the explosion of wood- or charcoal-burning brick oven pizzerias continues throughout South Florida, the increased availability of authentically Italian pizzas has taken off the edge that once made CPK seem so special. Still, when nostalgia strikes, awakening cravings for a fun California pie topped with, say, Thai chicken and vegetables in peanut sauce, an authentic Italian pie won’t do. There are roughly two dozen topping combinations of the menu, or create your own combo. Either way, you also have many crust choices: thin/crispy or original (hearty and puffy-edged, with a slight sweetness that comes from honey); white flour, whole-wheat or gluten-free. There are also a few menu items that are appealing pizza alternatives --- smaller, lighter oval flatbreads finished more sparely with intense combinations like spicy fennel sausage chunks, also-spicy roasted poblano pepper strips, fresh mozzarella and wild Greek oregano. Beverage highlights include silly cocktails that supplement the pizza fun.